Function
Porphobilinogen synthase or δ-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase (PBS) catalyzes the formation of porphobilinogen (PBG) from 2 molecules of aminolaevulinic acid (ALA). PBS participates in porphyrin biosynthesis[1]. Levulinic acid (LA) is an inhibitor of PBS. Porphyrin is the precursor of hemes, chlorophyll and vitamin B12.
Disease
PBS deficiency can be caused by lead and other heavy metal poisoning[2].
Structural highlights
The biological assembly of Yeast porphobilinogen synthase is . The [3]. Water molecules are shown as red spheres.